Cancer cash rolls in as cyclists roll out

LE Tour de Boswell passed without a hitch as three brothers were joined by family, friends and staff in a cycle odyssey around their 15 branches in support of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

Brothers Matt, Nick and Tim Burn set off to cycle 400 miles in four days on Wednesday, and passed through the Swindon branch on Saturday cheered on by their staff.

A spinathon was set up outside the shop throughout the day before the team of 12 cyclists arrived to a fanfare and party poppers, preparing for the last leg to Gloucester.

The team were riding in memory of Boswell’s founder, Jeremy Burn, who died two years ago of pancreatic cancer.

Matt, 37, said: “We wanted to do something in his memory and help fight the disease.

“He was extremely sporty in his day so we needed to set ourselves a physical challenge. We are complete novices but we had to do something that would push ourselves rather than just a jolly.

“We are looking to raise £40,000 altogether, and we have made around £28,000 so far, so we are well on our way, but there is still a lot to go.

“After Swindon we are on our last leg to Gloucester, and we have managed to pick up a few extras on the way with family and friends.”

The route had been tough but the team did not encounter any major disasters.

“It has been very gruelling, and while the weather has been kind there have been some really long stints,” Matt added.

“We managed to keep positive all the way through, and we have all helped motivate ourselves and helped each other along.

“There are a lot of sore muscles, but thankfully there have been no accidents – apart from me falling off at the very first set of traffic lights.

“When we finish we are all going out for a celebratory barbecue. We want to say thanks to all the teams who have helped us along the way at the different branches, and it is amazing what they have done here.

“Because we are a family business it is so nice the teams are part of the family as well. They all made such a huge effort.

“It is a really underfunded charity and one with the lowest survival rate. The only cure is to remove the tumour, but its symptoms are so light people are usually not diagnosed until too late.”

Not only current staff turned out to help raise money. Phillipa Elliott was collecting for the charity at the Brunel Centre for her former colleagues.

“I think what they are doing is amazing,” she said. “I used to work for Boswell’s so I just came down to show them my support because I know all the staff and wanted to help.”